The key difference between hypertrichosis and hirsutism is that hypertrichosis is the excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in males or females while hirsutism is the excessive dark or coarse hair growth in a male-like pattern on the face, chest, and back in females.
Human hair is a stratified, squamous, and keratinized epithelium made of multi-layered fat cells. The rope-like filaments in the hair cells provide structure and strength to the hair shaft. Human hair growth occurs everywhere on the body except for the inside of the mouth, the lips, the backs of the ears, the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, some external genital areas, the navel, scar tissues, and eyelids. Hypertrichosis and hirsutism are two medical conditions that cause excessive hair growth on the body.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hypertrichosis
3. What is Hirsutism
4. Similarities – Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism
5. Hypertrichosis vs Hirsutism in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hypertrichosis vs Hirsutism
What is Hypertrichosis?
Hypertrichosis is the abnormal amount of hair growth over the body in either males or females. It occurs over the entire body (generalized hypertrichosis) or is restricted to a certain area (localized hypertrichosis). Hypertrichosis can be either congenital or acquired later in life. The primary characteristic of hypertrichosis is excessive hair growth. The hair grown due to hypertrichosis is longer than expected. These hairs may consist of any hair type like languo, vellus or terminal. Hypertrichosis can be caused by heredity (genes), malnutrition, poor diet or certain eating disorders (anorexia nervosa), certain drugs and medications (hair growth drugs, certain immunosuppressants and androgenic steroids), cancer and cell mutation, autoimmune and infectious diseases affecting cells, and porphyria cutanea tarda.
Figure 01: Hypertrichosis
Hypertrichosis can be diagnosed through clinical and histological findings. People can avoid or manage hypertrichosis by avoiding certain immunosuppressants, androgenic steroids, hair growth drugs, temporary solutions (shaving, plucking, waxing, bleaching, chemical epilation), and electrolysis or laser treatment.
What is Hirsutism?
Hirsutism is a condition in women that causes excessive growth of dark or coarse hair on the face, chest, and back in a male-like pattern. Hirsutism can be caused due to various reasons, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), an imbalance of sex hormones, Cushing syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to excessive cortisol and androgen, tumors, and medications such as minoxidil. The signs and symptoms of hirsutism may include stiff or dark body hair appearing on the face, chest, lower abdomen, inner thighs, and back, deepening voice, balding, acne, decreased breast size, increased muscle mass, and enlargement of the clitoris.
Figure 02: Hirsutism
Hirsutism can be diagnosed through blood tests (testosterone hormones) and abdomen and pelvic examination in order to look for masses that could indicate tumors. Furthermore, the treatment options for hirsutism are medications (oral contraceptives, anti-androgens, topical creams (eflornithine), laser therapy, electrolysis, lifestyle and home remedies (plucking, shaving, waxing, depilation, and bleaching).
What are the Similarities Between Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism?
- Hypertrichosis and hirsutism are two medical conditions that cause excessive hair growth on the body.
- Both conditions can present in women.
- Both conditions may have genetic influences.
- These conditions can be treated and diagnosed through clinical evaluation.
- They are treated through medications and specific therapies.
What is the Difference Between Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism?
Hypertrichosis is the excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in either males or females, while hirsutism is the excessive dark or coarse hair growth on the face, chest, and back in females in a male-like pattern. Thus, this is the key difference between hypertrichosis and hirsutism. Furthermore, hypertrichosis is caused by heredity, malnutrition, poor diet, or certain eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, certain drugs and medications, cancer and cell mutation, autoimmune and infectious diseases affecting the cell, and porphyria cutanea tarda. On the other hand, hirsutism is caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, tumors, and medications such as minoxidil.
The below infographic presents the differences between hypertrichosis and hirsutism in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Hypertrichosis vs Hirsutism
Hair is the fastest-growing tissue in the human body. Hypertrichosis and hirsutism are two medical conditions that are related to excessive hair growth on the body. Hypertrichosis is the excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in either males or females, while hirsutism is the excessive dark or coarse hair growth in a male-like pattern on the face, chest, and back in females. So, this summarizes the difference between hypertrichosis and hirsutism.
Reference:
1. Norman, Abby. “An Overview of Hypertrichosis.” Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 16 May 2022.
2. “Hirsutism.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 12 Oct. 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Hypertrichosis” By iWL (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “CushingsBody” By Ozlem Celik, Mutlu Niyazoglu, Hikmet Soylu and Pinar Kadioglu – MRMJournal (CC BY 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia